Bedstead-fastening



` UNITED STATES PATENT oEEioE GHAS. L. BAUDER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

BEDSTEAD-FASTENING.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 9,541, dated January 18, 1853.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES L. BAUDER, of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and the State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in `Fastenings for Bed- Steads; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,land exact description Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the same.

upon the line y y Fig. V. Fig. 5 is'a plan of the fastener. Fig. 6 is a vertical section upon the line a e Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the casting D. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section upon the line fr m Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the fastening when adapted to the French bedstead. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the casting L fastened to the inside of the post of the French bedstead. Fig. 1l is a plan of the bedstead, showing the arrangement of the slats upon the arms of the fastener O.

Similar letters refer to the corresponding parts in the several figures.

The nature of my invention consists in connecting the side rails and posts of bed steads by fastenings composed of metal bars with projections on each end, the inner faces of which are sections of screws; these faces work against metal inclined planes, one of which is fastened in the post, and the other near the end of the rail, the joint being kept tight by the weight of the bed, which rests on a frame so connected with the fastenings, that the pressure upon it keeps the joints close, and the bedstead perfectly firm.

In the drawing, (A) represents a post of the bedstead, in the inner face of which is fastened the casting (B), an inside elevation of which is seen in Fig. 3, and a longitudinal section of the same on the line y y, in Fig. 4. The part (a) of this casting is a section of a screw, lowest at (o) and rising gradually to (6'). This casting (B) has its upper end (c) inclined as seen in Fig. 4, thus allowing the wedge (CZ) to be driven, fastening it firmly in the post.

To the inside of the rail is firmly fastened', by means of a dovetail, the casting (D), a side elevation of which is seen in Fig. 7, and a longitudinal section upon the line (m aw) seen in Fig. 8. The outer face of this casting is shaped as is seen at (e) forming a section of a screw, lowest at (e) and rising gradually to (it).

The fastener (C) is of met-al, and consists of a shaft (f)having at its extremities the arms (f f) a section of which is seen in Fig. 6. The inner faces of these arms are sect-ions of screws, which when the fastening is in operation press against the outer faces of the castings (B) and (D). Upon the top of the bar is the extremity of the arm (m) the use of which will be afterward explained.

To connect the rail with the bed post; the pins (Z, Z) upon the end of the rail, are placed in the holes (7c, c) in the face of the post for the purpose of steadying the rail. The shaft (f) is then placed on its bearings (g, g) in the castings (B) and (D), and the arm (m) pressed down, tightening the joint; for the following reason.

The inner faces of the arms (f f), which are sections of screws, press against the outer faces of the castings (B) and (D) also sections of screws, causing the end of the rail to be drawn against face of the post as tight as possible; thus, making the joint perfectly close. When the joint is thus tightened the arm of t-he fastener is nearly horizontal.

The joints are kept tight and the bedstead rendered firm by the following arrangement. After the posts and rails of the bedstead are united, the slats (G, Gr) are placed across the bedstead with their ends resting upon the arms (m) of the fasteners (C); and upon these slats (Gr Gr) are secured the slats (E E) by the screws (a, a). Thus forming a frame upon which the mattresses and beds are placed, the whole weight of which is supported by the arms (m) of the fasteners (C). The effect of this pressure is to keep the joints continually tight; the action of thesystem being that of a wedge having the inclined planes (Z), b) and (e h) for its faces, which are pressed the tighter against the inner faces of the arms (f, f) of the fastener (C), as the pressure upon the arm (m) of the fastener is increased, thus causing the whole system to be kept firm by the weight of the beds and their occupants acting upon the arm of the fastener, and through it, to the before me11- tioned connection between the rail and post.

To adapt the fastening to French bedsteads, a casting (L) similar to (D), is secured to the inside of the post. This casting has its outer face hollowed out forming a section of a screw similar to that on the casting (D). The same fastener is used, and by the pressure of the inner faces of its arms (f f), against the inclined planes on the outer faces of the castings (D) and (L) upon the post and rail; caused in the manner before described, by pressure on the arm (m), the joint is tightened. The joints are kept tight and the bedstead rendered firm, by the bed frame rest-ing upon the arms of the fasteners in the manner before described. Thus we have -a firm and secure fastening, perfectly simple in its construction and operation, and one which can never become loosened by age, as, whenever in use, the bedstead is sure to be firm. In this respect the fastening may be considered self acting. Another advantageous feature in this fastening is the ease with which the bedstead may be taken down, all that is necessary being to remove the slat frame, raise the arms of the fasteners, and in a few seconds the bedstead is separated into its component parts, ready for removal.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The fastening of bedsteads by the use of a metal bar, having upon its extremities arms with inner faces formed of sections of screws, which arms work against t-he faces of castings secured in the bed posts, and to the ends of the rails, thus drawing the ends of the rails against the posts: the faces of these castings against which the arms of the bar work, being likewise constructed of sections of screws, the joint being kept close and the bedstead firm, by the pressure of t-he slat frame, caused by the weight of the bed and its occupants, upon arms attached to the metal bar, thus forming a self tightening fastening, the whole being constructed and arranged as herein fully set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name before two subscribing witnesses.

CHAS. L. BAUDER. Witnesses:

GEO. PA'ITEN, JOHN L. SMITH. 

